The National Digital Library Program at the Library of Congress makes digitized historical materials available for education and scholarship.

This transcription is intended to have an accuracy of 99.95 percent or greater and is not intended to reproduce the appearance of the original work. The accompanying images provide a facsimile of this work and represent the appearance of the original.

1994/03/152002/06/27

0001

Interview

Marie Carter

Anthony,

New Mexico

570 words

Anthony

Refugio Grant

OLD TIMERS DICTIONARY

In

Detail

One of the dearest and most beloved ladies of our community lives all alone on a ranch west of the Rio Grande, in a little white house, with climbing roses and honey-suckle. I had tea with her the other day. After she had cleared the table we sat down in her cozy living room to visit awhile and to chat.

" On the old business street west of the Santa Fe tracks, where Charley Miller, Mrs. Story and Mrs. Alvarez lived, Mrs. Story bought the house we occupied so we had to move. Since houses were scarce we decided to move to Chamberino and raise sheep," she said.

******

" I understand sheep raising was a thriving industry of the early days," I observed.

" It was," she assented. We didn't keep our sheep at Chamberino, however, but up in the Franklin mountains, east of Anthony. Sometimes I would go up there and camp with Mr. Coleman. Whenever our supplies ran low I went to Anthony to purchase more, riding a horse and leading a pack burro. One spring we had an early snow and lost our whole herd."

" The what did you do?"

" We bought this place. Our deed calls for almost thirteen acres, but the river stole six. You can't imagine what a source of worry the Rio Grande was in the early days. It was such a tricky old stream. One day it would be so dry that the settlers could cross it on foot. And the very next day it would be so full of water that they would have to resort to skiffs."

*******

" Was this land in the Refugio Grant?"

" Yes, just a moment and you may see for yourself." As she spoke she opened the top drawer of a heavy oak chest and took out a paper which she gave me to read.

This is what I read: " 'Abstract No. 3555. The Refugio Grant Colony in Dona Ana County, New Mexico to wit: Beginning December 17, 1869, this being 00033
the date of filing of Grant to "Refugio Colony, and bringing the title to date. Prepared for Mrs. Clara Coleman, April 20, 1931.'

*********

The Spanish and Mexican land grants of New Mexico may be divided into two classes: The Spanish grants made between 1693 and 1821, and the Mexican grants made between 1821 and 1846. A few grants were made after that time in the Mesilla Valley, which Mexico claimed until the dispute was settled by the Gadsden treaty.

The Refugio Colony, Dona Ana County, was granted 15,000 acres in 1852, and the grant was confirmed in 1901.

The Rio Grande, which gave the early settlers so much trouble, is the only important river in New Mexico that does not have its source within the state. It enters New Mexico in a deep canyon a short distance to the east of the 106 th Meridian.

**********

Mrs. Clara Coleman: Born in Uvalde, Texas, December 3, 1864; came to Anthony, New Mexico in 1900; Attended Ad Ran College at Thorps Sulphur Springs; member of the Crescent Club of Anthony.